This 30-unit, two-semester program provides the opportunity to engage in a research specialization or focus beyond that possible within the professional degree programs. Two concentrations are currently available: Architectural Pedagogy and the History and Culture of Architecture.
The Master of Science in Architectural Studies (MSAS) program is open to students with an undergraduate degree in architecture and students enrolled in another degree program in the Graduate School of Architecture & Urban Design. Academic advisors help students craft a unique curriculum that builds toward individual research goals culminating in a thesis project. Students take courses within the Sam Fox School and across the university, allowing them to construct a broad foundation for their research. The thesis project allows for research on a wide variety of topics in architectural pedagogy, history, and theory, and it is the apex of the program.
Admission requires an application that includes a portfolio, transcripts, a statement of purpose with a specific research focus for the proposed program of study, and three letters of recommendation. Admission to the program requires a faculty member to accept responsibility as the academic advisor to supervise the proposed course work and thesis.
| Requirements | Units |
|---|---|
| Mandatory thesis or project | 6 |
| Research preparation | 3 |
| Seminars, directed research, and independent study | 21 |
| Total Units | 30 |
Note: A maximum of 15 units can be "double counted" for both the MArch, MLA, or MUD program and the MSAS program. Decisions regarding course credit to be "double counted" will be made by the academic advisor.